In 2016, the French Parliament passed the Olivier-Coutelle law, a law on prostitution that penalizes the clients of prostitutes. Seven years later, the fault lines are still sharp. Today, it is the Parisian massage parlors that crystallize the debates. Salons where prostitution is sometimes practiced out of sight.
Twenty-two o’clock, an April evening. In the 17th arrondissement of Paris, three women, aged 19 to 70, prepare for the operation by donning plastic gloves. Lilou, the youngest, grabs a spray paint can and a stencil, then paints the sidewalk.
Opposite, the massage parlor has been closed for a few minutes. Its owner has no idea of the – illegal – operation that is taking place. He will discover the message the next day. The message ? ” How much is it ? 1500 euro fine. A nod to the question a client asks a prostitute before getting paid sex. Except that the answer is a reference to the fine that this client incurs if he is caught red-handed. Since the law of 2016, customers are penalized with a fine of 1,500 euros if they obtain a paid sexual exchange with a prostitute.
This message will be tagged in front of around forty massage parlors, all suspected by the Zéromacho association of covering up prostitution activities. Like this collective, others joined the operation which brought together around twenty people. All oppose prostitution and demand strict enforcement of the law.
340 suspicious salons in Paris
” We have no doubt that these massage parlors are places of prostitution, as they have all been investigated by Zéromacho, assures Florence Montreynaud, at the head of the collective. A man walked into each of these salons, asked for details, information on what type of massage was done there, and ended by asking: “do you do finishing touches?” And in any case, the masseuse said: “but yes, sir, right away”. Finishings in this world means masturbation or fellatio. »
In Paris, 340 salons are places of prostitution, according to a count by the collective. The 17th arrondissement is the arrondissement with the most, according to Zéro Macho. ” The law prohibits trafficking in women, prostitution and pimping, recalls Florence Montreynaud. These salons are operated by men who rent premises from French landlords who should fall under the law. It’s about enjoying the fruit of prostitution, it’s called pimping. Yes, these salons must be closed, the law must be applied! »
The collective denounces the lack of controls of these salons. These checks are all the more difficult to carry out as it is almost impossible to catch the offenders in the act and therefore to materialize the offence. In terms of pimping, the fight is up to the prefect of police of Paris and the Brigade for the repression of pimping (BRP). Mayors have little power in this matter. Geoffroy Boulard, the mayor of the 17th arrondissement of Paris, regrets the lack of cooperation with the authorities and their lack of will: “ At the Paris police headquarters, they may say to themselves that this is not a priority, compared to terrorism, compared to the fight against drug trafficking… I’m sorry, but it’s a crime ! »
” It’s extremely violent »
Working with the prefectural authorities and associations is Geoffroy Boulard’s wish. But Amar Protesta, a member of the Sex Work Union (Le Strass), denounces a repressive approach: “ If we want to fight against exploitation, the best tool to defend people is to obtain rights and not repression, not designation, stigmatization, as was the case with Zéro Macho. For me, it’s extremely violent and it’s not a way to solve the problems that people may encounter. »
In 2022, four salons were closed in the 17th arrondissement of Paris. They covered prostitution activities, but were closed for concealed work: this is the parade that the authorities find to close these salons administratively, faced with the impossibility of proving acts of prostitution. Seven years after the 2016 law, the Sex Work Union is still calling for its repeal.